Universal canister flush valve

Abstract

A universal canister flush valve having a valve body configured to be fixed relative to a toilet tank and having a hollow wall defining an internal flow passage; a guide post coupled to and extending away from the valve body; a float fitted about and configured to slide relative to the guide post between a closed position and an open position, the float having an open top; and an extender that selectively couples to the open top in a first position, in which a first end of the extender is received in and coupled to the open top, and in a second position, in which a second end of the extender is received in and coupled to the open top, wherein the extender and float define a first overflow height in the first position and define a second overflow height in the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A universal canister flush valve comprising:
 a valve body configured to fixedly couple to a toilet;   a guide post extending away from the valve body;   a float including an outer wall and a bottom extending radially inward from the outer wall, the bottom including a central opening configured to receive the guide post and at least one hole; and
 a disc including at least one port rotatably coupled to the float, wherein relative rotation between the disc and the float adjusts the at least one port relative to the at least one hole to change a flow area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 1 , wherein the disc is disposed below the bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 1 , wherein the float is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and
 wherein the disc comprises an integrated disk and seal including a disk portion and a sealing member configured to seat against the valve body when the float is in the closed position.   
     
     
         4 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 3 , wherein the disk portion and the sealing member are comprised of different materials. 
     
     
         5 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 1 , wherein the guide post includes a hollow central body and a lower leg coupled to the valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 5 , wherein the guide post includes a flute extending from the hollow central body. 
     
     
         7 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 6 , wherein the flute is positioned at a predetermined height above the bottom and configured to act as a travel stop for the float. 
     
     
         8 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 1 , wherein the float further comprises an inner wall, wherein the bottom extends between the outer wall and the inner wall. 
     
     
         9 . A universal canister flush valve comprising:
 a valve body configured to fixedly couple to a toilet;   a guide post extending away from the valve body;   a float configured to move relative to the guide post, wherein the float includes an outer wall, an overflow tube, and a bottom extending between the overflow tube and the outer wall; and   a disc including at least one slot rotatably coupled to the float,   wherein relative rotation between the disc and the float adjusts buoyancy of the float.   
     
     
         10 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 9 , wherein the disc is rotatably coupled to an inside of the overflow tube. 
     
     
         11 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 9 , wherein the disc includes a body and a shoulder extending from the body, and
 wherein the shoulder of the disc is disposed in the overflow tube.   
     
     
         12 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder extends through the overflow tube, and
 wherein an actuator disposed on a distal end of the shoulder is configured to rotate the disc as the actuator is rotated.   
     
     
         13 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 9 , wherein the float further comprises at least one opening disposed in the bottom,
 wherein the relative rotation between the disc and the float changes a position of the at least one slot in the disc relative to the at least one opening in the float changing a flow area.   
     
     
         14 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 9 , wherein the overflow tube includes at least one slot, and
 wherein the relative rotation between the disc and the float changes a position of the at least one slot in the disc relative to the at least one slot in the overflow tube changing a flow area.   
     
     
         15 . A universal canister flush valve comprising:
 a valve body configured to fixedly couple to a toilet;   a guide post extending away from the valve body;   a float including an outer wall and a bottom extending radially inward from the outer wall, the outer wall having a first opening and a second opening below the first opening, and the bottom having a central opening configured to receive the guide post; and   at least one covering member adjustably coupled to the float.   
     
     
         16 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one covering member covers the first opening in a first position to define a first overflow height, and
 wherein the at least one covering member covers that second opening in a second position to define a second overflow height.   
     
     
         17 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one covering member covers the first opening and the second opening in a third position to define a third overflow height. 
     
     
         18 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one covering member comprises at least one annular band. 
     
     
         19 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one covering member comprises at least one plug. 
     
     
         20 . The universal canister flush valve of  claim 15 , wherein the guide post includes a hollow central body and a lower leg coupled to the valve body.